Bus Plunges 100ft in Canary Islands, 27 Hurt

A British pensioner died and 27 passengers were hospitalized after a tourist bus veered off a road and plunged 100 feet down a ravine on the Canary Island of La Gomera. The widow of the 77-year-old British national was among those injured and remained in hospital as the only patient receiving treatment.

The incident occurred around 1:15 PM on a bend on the GM-2 road, with investigators suspecting brake failure as the cause. The driver, who attempted to stop the vehicle by steering it onto a dirt track, was among four people seriously injured and was later airlifted to Tenerife.

Two other seriously injured passengers were also transferred to a hospital on neighboring Tenerife. The bus, operated by La Gomera Tours, is scheduled for removal to allow for a full police inspection. This is the second fatal crash on the GM-2 road in less than a year, following a separate incident last May.

Many of the British passengers, including three minors, were returning to the UK after their holidays. Psychological care has been provided to those affected, with the hotel manager assisting the British consulate at the hospital. Investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing.